Wednesday, 17 November 2010

With most businesses starting to slow down as the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to become GreenBizCheck certified. Click here to take action.

With most companies having a little extra time on their hands at this time of year, why not put it to good use and obtain environmental credentials? Start 2011 with renewed vigour. GreenBizCheck credentials will give your company access to new target markets and revenue streams, new communication opportunities to established clients, increased profit margins and a higher corporate and social responsibility profile. Please see this issue's article Plan Sustainability Communications, Not Green Marketing, for 2011 for some ideas on the best way to maximise your GreenBizCheck credentials. Alternatively, contact [email protected] for your free Green Communications Guide.

Defragmenting Your Office and Home Computers

Unnecessary applications and fragmented hard drives put extra load on CPU's. Constantly maintain computers by defragging them and uninstalling unnecessary applications. Research has shown that by defragmenting the hard drive on a regular basis, one computer can have an annual energy saving of almost $22. A company with 250 computers could save up to $5,500 annually. How much money could your company save?

A Very Merry Green Christmas

Christmas provides an excellent opportunity to start ecologically-minded traditions. Initiating even a few changes this year will make a difference. Start discussing your intentions to have a green Christmas with your family early in the season.
Decide on a few key areas to improve without sacrificing family traditions. Understand that not everyone will want to participate. Be careful not to offend family members who might still be clinging to non-recyclable tinsel and giftwrap. Below are a few tips to help you prepare your green Christmas:

Switching to LEDs (light emitting diodes) is 90% more energy efficient than incandescent lighting. LEDs don't get as hot as traditional lights, lowering the risk of fire, and if one bulb goes out, the rest of the string still works. They last longer, too. Consider setting a timer if you leave the lights on when you go to bed.

The swiftest way to eliminate waste is to give less.

Try hiding gifts around the house and then giving kids clues as to where they are—if a gift is well hidden, it needn't be wrapped at all.

Point out recycling containers to guests when they arrive so they will know where to dispose of what they use.

Click here to get further ideas on how to have a more environmentally sustainable Christmas.

Featured Client: ONEgroup, creators of Miessence

Organic and Natural Enterprise Group (or ONEgroup) is an Australian based company who creates and manufactures the world's first Certified Organic skincare, haircare, personal care, health care and cosmetic products. ONEgroup's range of products stand in a class of their own by being independently certified to international food grade standards by some of the world's most respected organic certifying organisations, namely, Australian Certified Organic (ACO), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and IFOAM (Europe).

Plan Sustainability Communications, Not Green Marketing, for 2011

I hear from lots of companies that they don't do much to promote their sustainability initiatives, citing either fear of being accused of greenwashing or the fact that they are doing it for the right reason, not for the publicity.Read more >

The year climate science was redefined

The 12 months since the leaking of emails written by climate change scientists have seen major shifts in environmental debate.
Read more >

EPA is Seeking New Standards for Home Efficiency Retrofits

In seeking to establish new standards for home improvements that would increase energy efficiency, the EPA is asking for comments from the public. They have released a draft protocol which contains a series of best practice tools that would protect indoor air quality during a home energy retrofit. The goal is to devise a set of standards that would ultimately ensure health standards of building occupants during and after such a renovation.Read more >

Xerox Employees' Green Ideas Save Company $10.2 Million

One way to dismiss sustainability and any smidgen of corporate social responsibility is to shout the antiquated argument that we only have a choice between the economy and the environment. Xerox has shown that is not the case. Last year the company announced it was working on carbon neutrality; to that end, in the push to make the company more "green," Xerox encouraged its employees to share ideas on how the organization could become more efficient. Green can be lean, and the environment can lend itself to economy, to tweak the word a tad.Read more >

If you would like to save money and boost your green credentials please click here.